Hydrocarbon fuel burning device



Aug. 29, 1944.

E. E. GOLL'ER ETAL 2,356,994

' HYDROCARBON FUEL BURNING DEVICE Filed Mar ue, 1943 Patented Aug. 2 9,1944 HYDROCARBON FUEL BURNING DEVICE Eugene E. Goller and Lee R. Foster,Chicago, Ill., assignors tov Unique Manufacturing Co., Inc., Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 8, 1943, Serial No.478,440

V 4 Claims.

The invention relates to a fuel burning device adapted for burningvarious types of hydro-carbon fuels and especially for burning treated,leaded or ethyl gasoline. The invention contemplates a device whereinthe heat for vaporizing the liquid fuel is transferred indirectlythrough the walls of the device, with combustion taking place inside theflame nozzle of the device at a point above the fuel level in the fuelpreheating and vaporizing chamber with which the flame nozzle isconnected, while the vaporizing heat or heated vapor is conducteddownwardly within the walls of the vaporizing chamber to a point beneaththe open end of the mixing tube or member, whose upper open endcommunicates with. the flame nozzle or member.

The improved device provides a method of conducting the vaporizing heatinto the fuel which permits a very close control of the generatortemperature, a vital factor in the successful burning of leaded or ethylgasoline. V

Furthermore, since all vaporizing heat must travel through the burnerwall and be transferred to the fuel holding chamber by conduction, theamount or degree of heat may be accurately controlled by providing thetube or flame nozzle of the device with a predetermined number and sizeof slots or holes.

Another object of theinvention is the provision of a comparatively largeannular fuel holding chamber arranged in the walls of the device whichenables the burner to operate at a very low generator temperature. As aresult of the struc-- ture and'condition mentioned, namely by having acomparatively large volume of liquid fuel warming up during operationand replacing the escaping or burning vapor, the necessity for a highheat in any part of the generator proper is obviated and deposits ofcarbon, lead, bromine, sulphur and other solids are practicallyeliminated, because these products are carried along with the vapor andexpelled with the flame of the device.

The invention has for its object the provision of a burner for the fuelsmentioned which is so designed that the generator-temperature iscontrolled to equal or match the vaporizing range of the fuel beingused; or in other words, the device is constructed to providesubstantially the same temperature conditions which areemployed toproduce the fuel at the refinery, with the result of maintaining the topgenerator temperature the same as the end point of the fuel, the burnervaporizes all of the fuel without reaching a temperature which wouldchange the chemical composition of the fuel.

The objects and above enumerated advantages of the invention, as well asother advantages inherent therein, will all be readily comprehended fromthe detailed description of the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of the improved devicewith certain portions shown in elevation and an intermediate portion ofthe fuel supply line broken away.

Figure 2 is a similar view of amodification or silent type burnerdevice.

The particular exemplification of the invention disclosed in Figure 1 isin the nature of a Bunsen burner and it will be understood that it is tobe connected with a suitable source of liquid fuel under pressure orintroduced by a suitable fuel pump; the liquid fuel being conveyed tothe device by the pipe 10, provided with a suitable control or shut-offvalve ll. Burners of the type to which the invention relates preferablyare arranged in a vertical position, in order that the vapor may holddown the raw fuel and prevent it from entering the burner outlet orflame tube.

The supply pipe [0 communicates with the boti tom of .the annular fuelchamber [2 which is arranged in the cylindrical wall of the device andis adapted to hold a comparatively large quantity of the liquid fuel.The fuel chamber I2 is formed by the outer cylindrical wall l3 whoseupper end'is shown bent or curved inwardly at I4 and is united with thecylindrical flame noz- 'zle l5, which'preferably is of predetermineddiing tube or flue H! which preferably extends to a point slightly abovethe plane of the normal level of the liquid fuel in the chamber l2indiwith an upwardly disposed tube 22 which extends upwardly through thebottom of the fuel chambar-preferably diametrically opposite the fuelsupply port or opening I'I-to a point beneath the top 14 of the fuelchamber and also preferably slightly beneath the plane of the top of themixing tube I9; the upper end of the vapor conveying tube 22 extendingabove the normal level of the liquid fuel and communicating with thevapor gathering portion or chamber in the upper end of the fuelreceiving chamber I2.

In the construction described, the comparatively large quantity ofliquid fuel in chamber I2 is preheated and caused to vaporize by theindirect transfer of heat to the fuel in chamber l2, mainly by heatconduction through the metal walls of the flame nozzle whose lower endwall is shown preferably somewhat reduced in thickness and constitutesthe inner wall of the annular fuel chamber. This method of conductingthe heat into the liquid fuel permits a very close control of thegenerating temperature, which is a vital factor in thesuccessful burningof leaded or ethyl gasoline; the degree or amount of conducted heatbeing regulated or controlled by a reduction in wall thickness of theflame nozzle which may be accomplished by providing the nozzle with oneor more extraneous slots or sockets, as shown at 23 in Figure 1, ofpredetermined size and which extend part way into the wall or entirelytherethrough. This conduction of heat may, of course, be differentlyaccomplished, but the use of sockets or slots (whose number and size maybe varied) enables a more accurate and close control of the amount ofheat. The annular fuel chamber I2 enables the preheating of acomparatively large quantity of liquid fuel which fills the chamber to apoint beneath the top of th vapor take-off tube 22 and consequentlyprovides a vapor chamber above the liquid fuel; the vapor beingdischarged by port 2! into the lower end of the mixing tube l9, withentrained air; combustion taking place insid the flame nozzle at a pointabove the fuel level in the fuel chamber l2.

Figure 2 illustrates, in vertical section, a modified form or silenttype burner. Basically,. this burner is the same as the Bunsen or torchtype heretoforedescribed and involves the chambered member 24, showncircular in cross-section (although member 24 as well as member l3 maybe of any suitable cross-section) provided with a fuel chamber 25 closedat the top by wall 26 and at the bottom; the chamber being formed by theinner wall 21 (preferably heavier than the outside wall) which may beformed integral with the end walls of the member or initimately se- Thebottom of the member is cured thereto. provided with a port 28 andwiththe supply line or pipe 10, similar to the supply pipe in Figure 1, andprovided with a control valve. The bottom 'of member 24, preferably at adiametrically opposite point, is apertured for passage of a vapor tube22, whose lower end connects with the vapor nozzle 20 provided withdischarge port 2|. The lower end of the member 24, centrally, isprovided with a closure diaphragm 18 which in turn supports the lowerend of a mixing tube or flue 29 -which preferably extends somewhat abovethe order that the liquid fuel in chamber 25 may be properly preheatedand vaporized prior to the passage of the vapor into vapor tube 22.

The same low generator temperature, as in the previously describedstructure, is used and the temperature range controlled by the thicknessof the heating plate, by the diameter of the plate, and the extent andangle of the flange 3|; while overheating may be avoided, when necessaryand in keeping with the character of the liquid fuel used, by providingthe plate with slots or holes of predetermined size and number.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 2,, the upper end of themixing tube 29 is shown internally threaded to receive the externallythreaded ring 32 secured to the flange spreading hollow inverted cupshaped member 33 whose upper and lower walls are held in proper spacedrelation and secured together by suitable spacing braces, one of whichis shown at 34. The top wall of the member 33, on its lower face, may beprovided with an inverted cone shaped spreader as at 35 whose apexextends slightly downward into the ring 32 and hence into the path ofthe upwardly rising products of vaporization, causing the products topass annularly toward the perimeter of the flame spreadingmember 33whose outer annular portion extends downwardly into contact with theheating plate 30; the downwardly disposed portion of the upper plate ofmember 33 being provided with a plurality of holes or slots as shown at36; the curved flange 3| of the heating plate causing the flame tospread upwardly.

The burner shown in Figure 2, similar to the type shown in Figure 1,preferably is maintained and operated in vertical position to enable thevapor to restrain or hold down the raw fuel and prevent it entering theburner outlet member although itmay be possible to position the burnerdifferently.

By varying the height of the burner outlet tube, it is possible to varythe temperature of the escaping vapor, the higher the tube, the

hotter the vapor, and the shorter or lower the.

tube, the colder the vapor; an extremely short or low tube would resultin picking up wet fuel.

We have shown the burner in Figure 2 provided with an inverted vaporspreader 35, but

this spreader may be omitted in the structure. shown without interferingwith the proper operation of the burner.

The burners shown in both Figures 1 and 2, as is usual with hydrocarbonfuel burners, are provided with a priming pan or cup, as shown at 31, toreceive a small quantity of liquid fuel for the purpose of preheatingthe burner during initial operation, namely when the burner is in a coldstate. The priming pan or cup is preferably adjustably secured to thesupply pipe ID by 3115165118 of the collar and set-screw, as shown at Wehave have shown what we believe to be the l. A hydro-carbon fuel burningdevice comprising'a chambered member adapted to hold a comparativelylarge quantity of hydro-carbon fuel and provide a vapor holding chamberin its upper end, said member being formed with a central openingtherethrough, the inner wall of said member terminating above the vaporchamber in a flam directing portion while the lower end of said wallconstitutes a fuel heating and vaporizing portion; an open-ended mixingflue of uniform diameter arranged lengthwisely in said opening in spacedrelation with the inner wall of said member; an apertured closurediaphragm for the lower end of said central opening secured to saidinner wall and to the lower end of said mixing flue whereby the latteris secured in place and held spaced from said inner wall; a fuel supplypipe connected with the bottom of said fuel holding chamber; and a vaportube communicating at one end with said vapor holding portion of saidchamber while the other end is spaced from the lower end of said mixingflue and provided with a vapor discharge port directed toward the end ofsaid flue.

2. A hydro-carbon fuel burning device comprising a double walled memberadapted to hold a quantity of fuel and provide a vapor'ch'amber thereinabove the fuel, the inner wall of the member constituting the fuelheating-and vaporizing means and extending above the vapor chamber andterminating in a flam directing portion, said member being provided withan opening disposed lengthwisely therethrough; a fuel supply pipeconnected with the fuel receiving portion of the chamber; an open-endedmixing flue disposed through the Opening in said member in spacedrelation with th inner wall 01' said member; means whereby said flue ismaintained in place and air passage between the flue and the inner Wallof said member prevented; and a vapor tube arranged in said chamber withits upper end communicating with the vapor holding portion of said'chamber while the other end is disposed beneath and spaced from one endof said fiue and provided with a discharge port directed toward said endof the flue.

3. A hydro-carbon fuel burning device comprising a main member providedwith spaced ver tical walls united at top and bottom to provide a closedfuel holding and vapor chamber therebetween extending throughout theheight of the member, the member being formed with a central opening; afuel supply pipe connected with the bottom of said chamber at one sideof the member; a vapor take-off pipe disposed through the bottom of saidchamber and terminating in the upper end of the chamber, the lower endof said take-off pipe being disposed in spaced relation beneath thecentral opening in said member and provided with an upwardly directedvapor discharge port; a mixing flue arranged vertically in said centralopening in spaced relation with the inner wall of the fuel holdingchamber and above said vapor discharge port; a flame directing memberdisposed above and intimately secured to said main member in heattransmitting relation therewith and adapted to receive the mixture ofair and fuel vapor from th mixing flue; and means whereby the lower endof said flame directing member is closed and said flue is held in spacedrelation with the inner wall of said chamber.

4. A hydro-carbon fuel burning device comprising a main member withspaced vertically arranged walls to provide an annular liquid fuelholding chamber therebetween closed at top and at bottom, said memberhaving a large central opening therethrough; a liquid fuel supply pipeconnected with the bottom of the fuel holding chamber at one side of thedevice; a vapor takeoff pipe extending upwardly through said chamber tothe vapor space in the upper end thereof, the lower end of said pipebeing arranged beneath and spaced from said member and provided with anupwardly directed vapor discharge port; an open ended mixing fluearranged in said central opening in spaced relation with the inner wallof said member; means secured to the bottom of said member and to saidflue for closing said central opening and for supporting the flue inplace; a flame directing member secured to the top of the main member inheat conducting relation therewith; a double walled inverted cupshapedmember secured to the upper end of said mixing flue with its perimeterdisposed on said flame directing member and provided with openingsadjacent its perimeter, the inner wall of said inverted cup-shapedmember being provided with an opening communicating with the upper end

